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Frontiers December 2012/January 2013 Issue

“It’s fair to say Boeing’s an old friend to China. That matters.
Boeing’s respected here and the airplanes are admired.”
– Marc Allen, president of Boeing China
Airport Authority and China Eastern Airlines, inject new power into Air China,” said with it fond feelings among many, said
opened hangar doors to support modifi- the airline’s chairman, Wang Changshun, Boeing’s Ihssane Mounir, vice president
cation, maintenance, repair and overhaul noting that Boeing models now constitute of Sales and Marketing for Northeast Asia,
services at Shanghai’s Pudong International 60 percent of Air China’s fleet. Commercial Airplanes.
Airport. Also in Shanghai, Boeing recently Liu Shaoyong, chairman of China East- But building on that name means
expanded its Flight Services business, adding ern Airlines, added that Boeing’s influence Boeing needs to continue building relations
an advanced 787 Dreamliner training suite on improving aviation safety in China and keeping promises to customers in
and a 747-400 full-flight simulator to the through its training of Chinese aerospace China, he said.
training campus’ 757/767 full-flight simulator. workers can’t be underestimated, either. “The best opportunities we have are to
“Our presence in China has really taken “Boeing has done a lot of work regarding continue to partner with the airlines and sat-
a robust shape the past 10 years,” said China’s air traffic management, executive isfy their growth demands going forward,”
Marc Allen, president of Boeing China. development and training for services,” Mounir said. “We have the best products,
“It’s fair to say Boeing’s an old friend to said Liu, whose China Eastern Airlines we work closely with them and the govern-
China. That matters. Boeing’s respected flies Boeing 737s and has ordered 20 ment agencies, and we continue to look
here and the airplanes are admired.” 777-300ERs. “We step to the global arena for better ways to work with them.” n
It all began with a high-profile Boeing with the help of Boeing.” eric.c.fetters-walp@boeing.com
aircraft touching down in Beijing in Febru- China and Boeing similarly are moving
ary 1972. U.S. President Richard Nixon forward with the establishment of Boeing PHOTOS: (Above left) Barry Livingston,
traveled there aboard Air Force One—then Research & Technology–China, collabora- center, Boeing Asia Supplier Quality team
a Boeing 707—and became the first presi- tion with the Chinese Academy of Sciences leader, works with Chengdu Commercial
dent to visit since the People’s Republic of and other Chinese universities, and a new Aircraft Company (CCAC) mechanics
mentoring and reviewing workmanship on
China was established in 1949. Because joint Boeing-COMAC Aviation Energy 737 doors. (Above center) Boeing’s Russ
it was the first Boeing jetliner to land in the Conservation and Emissions Reductions Whitten, left, Manufacturing Integration
country, Chinese workers had to specially Technology Center in Beijing, which will Center Satellite Supplier Quality representa-
build a compatible portable stairway. research aviation biofuels. tive, reviews workmanship of a 747 spoiler
During that visit, Nixon met with Chairman To inspire the next generation in China, with CCAC mechanic Gong Yu Lin, center,
and Boeing CCAC site leader David Crane.
Mao Zedong and Premier Zhou Enlai Boeing sponsors the Soaring with Your (Above right) Engine inspectionYANG WEIHUA
and issued a joint agreement to improve Dream aerospace education project, which at Boeing Shanghai. YONG HE (Opposite page,
diplomacy between the two countries. has involved more than 45,000 elementary from left) Boeing’s Ivan Kwok, Mina Chen
Within months, China ordered 10 school students since 2009. This summer, and Chao “Joseph” Zhou. LIU ZHIJIAN
707s for its airlines, opening the market Boeing helped introduce the FIRST—For
for Boeing. Air China took delivery of the Inspiration and Recognition of Science and
first 707 to arrive in China. The airline has Technology—robotics contest to high school
since ordered more than 100 jetliners from students in Beijing.
Boeing, including 777-300ERs (Extended Because many people in China
Range), 787s and the 747-8. experienced their first flight on a Boeing
“Such a fleet expansion will definitely jetliner, the company’s name carries
34 BOEING FRONTIERS / DECEMBER 2012–JANUARY 2013